Wellington New Zealand

Ballast

All vessels arriving from an overseas port are required to complete the Ballast Water Reporting Form as part of the notification procedure. It is now required to send the new Advance Notice of Arrival accompanied by the Ballast Water Reporting Form (part 1 and 2 in Word format) 48 hrs prior to arrival. Please find here , in PDF format, the instructions for completing the Ballast Water Declaration Parts 1 and 2.

Import Health Standard For Ballast Water From All Countries

Background Information

Introduction

This import health standard (IHS) is issued pursuant to Section 22 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, as amended.

This IHS details the conditions that must be met before ballast water loaded in territorial water of any other country may be discharged into New Zealand waters.

The IHS does not apply to ballast water that will not be discharged in New Zealand waters. The IHS does not apply to ballast water loaded in New Zealand waters. The IHS does not apply to emergency discharge of ballast water.

Nothing in the standard is to be read as relieving ship masters of their responsibility for the safety of the vessel, passengers or crew.

Permission to discharge Ballast water from other countries may not be discharged in New Zealand waters unless the approval of an inspector has been granted.

An inspector will only grant permission to discharge ballast water if she or he is satisfied that the conditions specified in the IHS have been met. Permission to discharge is granted when Part 1 of the vessel ballast report form has been signed by an inspector.

Part I of the Vessel Ballast Reporting Form approved by the Ministry of Fisheries must be completed for all vessels on arrival in New Zealand. Permission to discharge ballast water is granted when an inspector signs this part of the form.

If any ballast water is discharged in New Zealand waters, then Part 2 of the vessel ballast reporting form must be completed by the ships master and submitted to an inspector at the ship's last port of call in New Zealand.

If an inspector has reason to believe that the information supplied in Part 1 of the form is incorrect, she or he may require the ballast water be tested to confirm that it has been exchanged before granting permission to discharge.

Exemptions Exemptions listed in the IHS may be granted if it is shown that it was not possible or not safe to exchange ballast water en route to New Zealand.

These exemptions do not apply to "high risk areas" listed in Annex 1 to this standard. Areas listed in Annex I are considered to pose a particular threat to New Zealand biosecurity.

Annex 1 will be amended and updated as new information comes to light.

Areas will be added to Annex 1 based on consideration of a number of factors including: species present in that area; proximity to New Zealand; likelihood of species surviving the voyage in ballast water; and the similarity of the areas environment to New Zealand's marine environment. Criteria will be developed to assist in such evaluation.

Consultation with stakeholders, including the industry and researchers, will be undertaken in the evaluation of areas that might appropriately be added to Annex 1.

When, and if, new areas are added to Annex 1, inspectors will be notified and maritime notices used to convey the information to shippers.

Offences and penalties Providing incorrect information to an inspector is an offence under the Biosecurity Act 1993 section 154 (BB). It carries a penalty for individuals of up to 12 months imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding NZ$15,000, and for corporations a fine not exceeding NZ$75,000.

Failure to obey the directions of an inspector is an offence under section 154 (o). It carries a penalty for individuals of a fine not exceeding NZ$1000 and for corporations a fine not exceeding NZ$15,000.

Obtaining information Ship masters can communicate with MAF inspectors prior to their arrival in New Zealand waters to determine requirements. Communication should be directed to nearest local MAF Quarantine Service office or one of the following:

Import Health Standard (Biosecurity Act 1993) For Ship's Ballast Water From All Countries

1.

Scope This import health standard applies to ballast water loaded within the territorial waters of a country other than New Zealand and intended for discharge in New Zealand waters. Emergency discharge of ballast water is not covered by this standard.

2.

General conditions It is the responsibility of the Master to ensure that the ballast water, and any associated sediment, intended for discharge in New Zealand complies with the conditions in the standard. Ballast water that does not comply with the conditions must not be discharged in New Zealand waters.

Compliance with these controls must be consistent with the safety of the crew and the vessel. Nothing in these controls is to be read as relieving the Masters of their responsibility for the safety of the vessel.

3.

Definitions Ballast water - water, including its associated constituents (biological or otherwise), placed in a ship to increase the draft, change the trim or regulate stability. It includes associated sediments, whether within the water column or settled out in tanks, sea chests, anchor lockers, plumbing, etc.

Inspector - an inspector under the Biosecurity Act 1993.

New Zealand waters - means a) the internal waters of New Zealand; and b) the territorial sea of New Zealand

Internal waters - means; a) harbours, estuaries, and other areas of the sea that are on the landward side of the baseline of the territorial sea of New Zealand and;

b) rivers and other inland waters of New Zealand that are navigable by ships.

4.

Requirements for Ballast Water

4.1

No ballast water may be discharged into New Zealand waters without the permission of an inspector.

4.2

An inspector will only permit ballast water to be discharged if satisfied that the Master has met one of the criteria in section 5 below.

4.3

Part 1 of the Vessel Ballast Reporting Form approved by the Ministry of Fisheries must be completed for all vessels on arrival in New Zealand. Permission to discharge ballast water is granted when an inspector signs this part of the form.

4.4.

Part II of the Vessel Ballast Reporting Form must be completed and submitted to an inspector at the last port of call in New Zealand.

4.5

Sediment which has settled in ballast tanks, ballasted cargo holds, sea chests, anchor lockers or other equipment must not be discharged into the sea, but must be taken to a landfill approved by an inspector.

5.

Options for Satisfying an Inspector

Options 1Demonstrating that either:

the ballast water has been exchanged en route to New Zealand in areas free from coastal influences, preferably on the high seas. (Accepted techniques are either emptying and refilling ballast tanks/holds or pumping through the tanks a water volume equal to at least three times the tank capacity.); or

the ballast water is fresh water (not more than 2.5 parts per thousand NaCI).

Options 2Ballast water has been treated using an approved shipboard treatment system. Note - there are presently no approved shipboard treatment systems.

Option 3Ballast is discharged in an approved area or onshore treatment facility. Note - there are presently no approved areas or onshore treatment facilities in New Zealand

6.

ExemptionsIt is accepted that in some circumstances exchange may not be possible. An exemption will generally be granted by an inspector when it can be demonstrated that:

Exemption 1

The weather conditions on the voyage in combination with the construction of the vessel have precluded safe ballast water exchange; and

the ballast water was not loaded in any area listed in Annex 1.

Exemption 2

The construction of the vessel has precluded ballast water exchange; and the ballast water was not loaded in any area listed in Annex 1.

7.

CostsThe costs of inspection, analysis, identification, delays, and any other costs associated with this standard are the responsibility of the owner and/or charterer. These costs shall be actual, fair and reasonable.

8.

EnquiriesUnless indicated to the contrary on communications concerning this import health standard, all enquiries should be addressed to:

ANNEX 1Areas listed in this annex are considered higher risk areas. For this reason, ballast water loaded in these areas may not be discharged into New Zealand waters under any circumstances. This list may be modified as additional information becomes available.

Latest Related News

The Covid-19 crisis has painfully demonstrated the heterogeneous landscape that currently exists across ports worldwide. With the world’s attention now focused on exiting from lockdowns and preparing for a ‘new normal’, there is an urgent need to co-operate and accelerate the pace of digitalisation, according to a number of leading maritime associations, including BIMCO.

BIMCO, the world’s largest shipping association, has moved a step closer to finishing a global set of guidelines needed to protect the marine environment from invasive species and reduce CO2 emissions. Currently, there is no common global standard for cleaning ships’ hulls to avoid transferring invasive aquatic species, nor for the potentially damaging debris washed off in the process.

In an effort to understand the situation that members are facing, BIMCO is launching a survey regarding the European Union’s Ship Recycling Regulations’ (EUSRR) requirement of Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) that most cargo ships must comply with from 31 December 2020.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has postponed all meetings since March 2020. BIMCO is adapting to the new schedule, and this article provides an overview of the IMO-related work that BIMCO members need to know about, despite the pandemic.